Yard haven



(No Model.)

H. B. NIOKERSON & G. W. ELDRIDGE.

DEVICE PORINDIGATING THE TRIM 015 VESSELS. No. 564,449..

ajjvenf/ars ZMQLMQ MM se. Mia figmwd b NITED STATES Enron.

ATENT EIIRAM B. NIOKERSON, OF BOSTON, AND GEORGE \V. ELDRIDGE, OF VINE-'YARD HAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS; SAID NICKERSON ASSIGNOR TO SAID ELDRIDGE.

DEVICE FOR INDICATING THE TRIM OF VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,449, dated July 21,1896.

Application filed August 19, 1895. Serial No- 559,732. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HIRAM B. NIoKERsoN, residing at Boston, in thecounty of Suffolk, and GEORGE WV. ELDRIDGE, residing at Vineyard Haven,in the county of Dukes, State of Massachusetts, citizens of the UnitedStates, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDevices forIndicating the Trim of Vessels, of which the following is a speci- 1ofication. I

The object of our invention is to provide an instrument which, whenproperly attached to the cabin-wall or some other suitable portion of avessel, will correctly indicate on a I 5 dial her trim or position inthe water.

To this end our invention consists in the device illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view. Fig. 2 is aside view. Fig. 3 is a front view of the instrument with the dialremoved, showing the internal mechanism; and Fig. 4 is a side view ofthe internal mechanism, showing a portion of the case in verticalsection.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

The letter a indicates the framework of the mechanism of our devicesecured in the case m, in which is journaled the shaft 0, which projectsthrough the front of the frame to receive an indicator-hand o.

d is a shaft also journaled in the frame and parallel to the shaft 0 andprojecting through the front of the frame to receive an indica- 3 5tor-hand v.

The shaft d is provided with the segmental bevel-gear d, adapted to meshwith a similar gear I), mounted on the shaft b, which is journaled inthe frame at right angles to the shaft (Z.

c is a weight having a rigid arm, the top of which is rigidly secured onthe shaft 0. b is a similar weight having its arm rigidly secured on theshaft 1).

g is a stud projecting from the frame a to limit the movement of theweight 0 in one direction.

e is a piece of sheet metal firmly secured to-the stud h, which isrevoluble in the back of the case m, having the bent end e adapted tobear against the end of the weight 0' when it is in the position asshown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, and having the bent end 6 adapted toclasp the weight b when it is in position as shown in dotted lines, Fig.at. The head of the stud h is slotted to receive a wrench, by means ofwhich the part 6 is operated from the outside of the case m. The part cconstitutes a lock to secure the weights 0 and b in a rigid position, asshown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.

The front of the case m is provided with a dial, having openings for theshafts c and d to project through, and provided with the graduatedsegments t' and 7c. The case m is further provided with the stud In,through which works the screw 8, having a head 5-, adapted to turn in arecess in the flange n of the rim or base n, and ,provided with a blockq, rigidly secured thereon and having a hole in its side, by means ofwhich the screw may be revolved by inserting a lever in said hole. Aspring 0" is interposed between the block (1 and the flange n.

The case an is pivoted in the rim or base n by the screws 0, and whenthe screw 8 is revolved in either direction the inclination of the faceof the instrument to the flange n is changed.

The device is designed to be secured to some part of the vessel,preferably the wall of the cabin, by screws passing through the flangen. It is so arranged that the face of the dial is at right angles to thekeel of the vessel and fronting the stern. By means of the screw 8 thedial is adjusted to a perpendicular position when the vessel is in hernormal or desired position in the water and without her load. Thepointers o and '0 are 5 adjusted over the face of the dial, the pointero pointing to zero on the graduated segment i, and the pointer 12pointing to zero 011 the segment is. Then the vessel is loaded, thepointer n, by means of the weight 0, indicates on the dial the degree towhich she is 5 listed to starboard or to port; and the pointer 22, bymeans of the weight b indicates on the dial the degree of pitch she isby the head or by the stern. \Vhen the pointers w and o are in theposition of the dotted lines,

crossing over the star, they indicate that the weights 0 and 11* are inproper position to be secured by the locking device.

The lock is used only to secure the Weights in an immovable positionWhile the instrument is being handled for sale or transport.

Having" thus described our invention, What we claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patcut, is-

In an instrument for indicating the trim of avessel, the combination ofa dial, having two graduated segments on its face; two pointers, mountedon shafts projecting through said dial, and adapted to move respectivelyover said segments: one of said shafts actuated at certain times by apendulum rigidly secured to it, and the other shaft provided with asegmental bevel-gear, adapted to mesh with a similar gear of equaldiameter, mounted on a shaft journaled parallel with said dial, andactuated at certain times by a pendulum secured to said shaft; a case,inclosing said shafts and pendulums, having said dial as its front; atwo-armed lever, pivoted in said case and adapted to hold said pendulumin a rigid position, at certain times; a flanged ring, adapted to besecured to some upright part of a vessel, and said case pivoted at itssides, in said ring; and a revoluble screw, Working through a stud onthe top of said case, and having its head adapted to turn in a recess inthe edge of the flange of said ring, as shown and described.

HIRAM B. NICKERSON. GEO. \V. ELDRIDGE. \Vitnesses:

F. J. DAGGETT, F. P. DARTT.

